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Dallas Cowboys vs Chicago Bears: Preview, Prediction, Broadcast Information

By Jordan Campbell

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Dec 9, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte (22) runs the ball during the third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bears play their second of three consecutive primetime games on Thursday night as the team plays host to the Dallas Cowboys. 

After a 34-17 loss to the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, the Chicago Bears return to Solider Field on Thursday night with a record of 5-7 and looking to play spoiler against the 8-4 Dallas Cowboys.

The Cowboys, like the Bears, were also blown out on Thanksgiving. The Cowboys lost 33-10 last week against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Though, if the Bears have proved one thing to be correct this season, it is that they are the perfect “get right” opponent for struggling teams. Again, I refer you back to last week’s game against the Lions.

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    • In recent history, however, the Bears have played well against the Cowboys. In a Monday night game against the Cowboys last December, the Bears defeated Dallas 45-28. Then Bears’ quarterback, Josh McCown, had four touchdown passes in that game and running back Matt Forte added 102 yards on the ground on 20 carries.

    Though, the 2014 Chicago Bears are far worse than the 2013 Chicago Bears. The difference between the two teams comes on offense. The Bears offense has struggled this season by barely averaging over 20 points per game. There are a multitude of reasons for the Bears’ struggles on offense this season but none more important than their lack of a running game. For whatever reason, Bears’ head coach Marc Trestman, in almost every game this season, has opted to abandon the running game in the first half.

    Trestman’s abandonment of the running game was none more prevalent than last week against the Lions when the Bears had a total of 7 rushing attempts. Trestman’s gameplan last week was criticized by offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer, quarterback Jay Cutler, running back Matt Forte, and every Bears’ fan remaining that can still stomach watching this team. Trestman says that the Bears will emphasize the running game going forward, but that is a fallacy that the head coach has used before.

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    Until the Bears commit to running the ball, there is no reason to believe that the unit will find success. Meaning, barring an epiphany from Trestman, the Bears’ offense will once again struggle on Thursday night.

    On defense, the Bears will be in an uphill battle against the Cowboys. Cowboys’ running back DeMarco Murray leads the NFL in rushing yards with 1,427 on the season. Murray should have no trouble in finding gaps in a Bears’ defense that is allowing 105.5 rushing yards per game. In the event that the Bears can contain Murray, then the team has the problem of trying to stop Cowboys’ wide receiver Dez Bryant. Bryant is fifth among NFC wide receivers with 952 receiving yards. Bryant is also tied for the most touchdowns by a wide receiver in the NFC with 10 this season.

    Prediction

    There are just too many mismatches for the Bears to win this game. Sure, the Cowboys are known to fall off the face of the earth in December, but the Bears have already made that fall. Cowboys win 35-24.

    Broadcast Information

    • Start Time: 7:25 PM
    • Television Information: NFL Network
    • Radio Information: WBBM 780 AM
    • Live Stream: Feed 1 
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